Artist

BiographyIppolito Scarsella, called Scarsellino, was born inFerrara. He received his first training from his father,the lesser-known painter and architect SigismondoScarsella (1530–1614). During his educationin Ferrara he was influenced by a local traditionof strikingly chromatic painting, exemplified byDosso Dossi (c. 1486–1542), as well as by theMannerist work of Parmigianino (1503–1540).Parmigianino’s influence was possibly transmittedindirectly through Scarsellino’s studyof the work of Girolamo da Capri (1501–1556).Scarsellino continued his education in Bolognaand Venice, and his Ferrarese-influenced art wasrefined through a study of the work of AndreaSchiavone, Jacopo Bassano and Tintoretto.While in Venice he allegedly entered the workshopof Paolo Veronese (1528–1588) in c. 1570.His main body of work, however, was producedin Ferrara, to which he returned in 1576. Therehe was commissioned to decorate the DiamantiPalace, where he collaborated with the Carracci,in particular with Ludovico. In the ensuing yearsScarsellino was quite prolific, taking on a widerange of primarily local commissions, often forthe d’Este family. These mainly involved workson a smaller scale, which showcased Scarsellino’saptitude for painting sensitive and intimatedevotional scenes, with occasional larger commissions,such as altarpieces.